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Introduction

Kashmir
Development Foundation (KDF) a community development charity is leading on a
national campaign to celebrate ‘Kashmir History Week’ (20 – 27 October) in
recognition of the Kashmiri diaspora community and their contributions to the local
economy, cultural heritage and civic life in various towns and cities alongside
the Black History Month celebrations
in United Kingdom.

KDF
is asking local Town and City Councils to facilitate in holding a civic
ceremony to hoist or display the “Azad Jammu and Kashmir flag” at the City/Town
Halls on 24 October 2014 to mark and celebrate “Kashmir National Day” in the
Kashmir Week.

For
the first the time in history two local authorities (Rochdale and Bradford) officially
hoisted the flag of Azad Jammu Kashmir at their Town Hall to celebrate “Kashmir
National Day” on 24th October 2012. Manchester City Council officially displayed
Kashmir flag at Manchester Town Hall and Kashmir flag raising/display ceremonies
were also held as part of the Kashmir week in Oldham, Luton Rotherham and
Bolton in 2012-13, and a range of community events were organised by British
Kashmiri community in other towns and cities across United Kingdom.

This historic initiative
to mark and celebrate “Kashmir National Day” on 24th October every
year in the UK and across the world was started by the Kashmir Development
Foundation (KDF) - a national charity in partnership with local community
groups and their elected representatives working for the empowerment of the
‘Voice’ of the Kashmiri diaspora community.

Kashmir National Day- Why 24th
October?

The
significance of 24th October is that on this day Kashmiri people
have achieved a key milestone in their long struggle for peace, social justice
and fundamental freedoms. As part of their civil resistance movement to establish
a democratic system of governance they rebelled against the sovereign
autocratic rule of the Maharaja of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, and managed
to establish an interim Azad (free) Government of the State of Jammu and
Kashmir on 24th October 1947 within twenty days of the announcement
of formation of a provisional peoples’ government on 4th October
1947.

A number of local
councils in England have satisfactory record in improving community cohesion through
the recognition of the Kashmiri national and ethnic identity in their local
ethnic monitoring systems and supporting the Kashmiri diaspora community. Furthermore,
the local authorities in UK have a duty to demonstrate their commitment to all
communities to; eliminate unlawful discrimination; advance equality as well as
foster good community relations under the Equality Act 2010. The hoisting of
the Kashmir flag will further evidence on these council’s commitment in
advancing race equality and championing of community cohesion amongst diverse
cultures and communities.

Therefore,
by hoisting the Kashmir flag at the town halls or civic centres on 24th
October the local democratic institutions in UK will be celebrating their
commitment with the ideals of democratic governance at home and abroad, and the
achievements of the Kashmiri diaspora community and their contributions to the
local economy, heritage and civic life in Britain.

Kashmiri
Diaspora Community in the United Kingdom

The
United Kingdom has a good as well as a very complex historical relationship
with the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 16 March 1846. The Kashmiri diaspora
is one of the most economically active and politically engaged communities in
their place of origin as well as their current place of abode – the United
Kingdom. Over half a million people sharing common national identity and
representing divers ethnic, religious and cultural heritage of Jammu and
Kashmir are currently living and working in United Kingdom. They have very
strong on-going family, cultural, political and commercial interests in their
place of origin. The Kashmiri community is an equal and integral part of the civil
society in each and every sphere of life across Britain. Indeed, in England,
sixteen local authorities recognise Kashmiri’s national and ethnic identity in
their local authorities’ ethnic monitoring systems.

The
Kashmir National Day – Kashmir Flag Hoisting

The enduring desire to re-unite
the forcibly divided people and the State by achieving freedom, social justice,
peace and a democratic system of governance in Jammu and Kashmir is renewed
annually through celebrating “Kashmir National Day” on 24th October
by Kashmiris all across the globe

Now
is the time to recognise and celebrate the contributions of Kashmiri community
in the civic, economic and cultural heritage of various towns and cities across
U.K by hoisting Kashmir flag at Town/City halls and other place of public
interest, homes and businesses.

We
are actively seeking partnership with local community groups, businesses and
public sector organisations to celebrate ‘Kashmir National Day’ by organising
civic ceremonies to hoist Kashmir flag at Town/City halls and places of public
interest in recognition of Kashmiri diaspora community and their contributions
to the local economy, cultural heritage and civic life. This would help us to advance the education of the general public in the
history and culture of Jammu and Kashmir.

Volunteer with KDF or local community organisations to help
in organising “Kashmir National Day – 24 October” ceremony and other events in
the Kashmir History Week (20-27 October) to advance
the education of the general public in the history and culture of Jammu and
Kashmir.

Write to your Councillor, Mayor and Leader of the Council
to facilitate in officially hoist Kashmir flag at the town/City hall on 24
October every year.

Hoist or display Kashmir Flag in your house, business or
car window on 24th October.

Keep yourself updated on activities and events being
organised across UK as part of ‘Kashmir History Week’ by visiting www.kdfajk.org

Social
Justice and Equality

KDF believe that the
people should be able to challenge the attitudes of individuals and practices
of institutions and society that discriminate against and marginalise people.

KDF is leading
on integrating equality and human rights work in Jammu and Kashmir. We continue
to support community development
initiatives and partnerships to increase opportunities and life chances
for Kashmiri people.

Sports 4 Communities

To build relations, bridge divisions and develop networks across communities & cultures for reconciliation, conflict transformation, peace and development within all the regions of former state of Jammu and Kashmirby developing strong and vibrant sports networks for hosting inter and intra-regional, and across ceasefire line/Line of control (LOC) sports events.

Enterprise & Social Mobility

We are leading on the development of “J&K International Trade and
Investment Network” to release the potential of Kashmiri Diaspora to
realise economic regeneration, trade and investment in all the regions
of Jammu and Kashmir.

Peace building and Development

We are pro-actively engage in removing barriers in transforming conflict and campaigning
for a more productive Indo-Pak peace process over Kashmir, inclusive of
Kashmiri voices from all the regions of Jammu and Kashmir.